Rory McIlroy appears to have changed his mind on the proposed golf ball rollback after previously calling the R&A and USGA’s Distance Insights Project a “huge waste of time and money.”
While he still believes golf should not be made harder at grassroots and recreational level, he is happy to see the proposal to make the ball shorter in the pro game.
The four-time Major winner says he “really” likes the proposal to reduce hitting distances at elite level and even says he might use the rolled-back ball in PGA Tour play if he doesn’t have to in order to gain an advantage for Majors – if the Majors were to implement the proposed Model Local Rule.
The Model Local Rule would allow tournament organisers to ensure competitors use a ball that would travel a predicted 15-20 yards shorter. The testing speed of golf balls is proposed to be increased to 127mph from 120mph but the ball cannot travel further than the current 320 yard limit, meaning that it would have to be rolled back significantly.
“I’ve been pretty adamant that I don’t really want the governing bodies to touch the recreational golfer because we need to make this game as not intimidating and as much fun as possible, just to try to keep the participation levels at an all-time high,” McIlroy told No Laying Up (opens in new tab).
“So, I’m glad in this new proposal that they haven’t touched the recreational golfer. But for elite level play, I really like it. I really do. I know that’s a really unpopular opinion amongst my peers, but I think it’s going to help identify who the best players are a bit easier.
“I think you’re gonna see people with more well-rounded games succeed easier than what the game has become, which is a bit bomb and gouge over these last few years.
The Northern Irishman leads the PGA Tour in driving distance with an average of 326.6 yards
(Image credit: Getty Images)
“Selfishly, I think it helps me. I think this is only gonna help the better player. You know, it might help the longer player too, in some ways. But I think it’s going to help the overall professional game.
“I think making guys hit some long irons again, and some mid irons, and being able to hit every club in your bag in a round of golf. I can’t remember the last time when I’ve had to do that. I don’t know if this change in the ball will make us do that, but it certainly is a step closer to that.”
And why did he change his mind? Tennis.
“I was once of the opinion that, you know, they don’t try to make…
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